State Papers 1988: Judge plea for release of Hitler's deputy Hess

Nazi in Spandau prison

Mission: Rudolf Hess flew solo to Britain in a bid to negotiate peace

A circuit Court judge wrote to the Government explaining that as his "Christmas good deed" he was urging Ireland to intercede for the release from prison of Adolf Hitler's deputy, Rudolf Hess.

Judge Frank Roe, who would later become President of the Circuit Court, was one of a number of Irish citizens who wrote seeking Ireland's involvement in the campaign for Hess to be released from Spandau Prison in Germany.